[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1334-D1335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                         Thursday, December 8, 2011

[[Page D1334]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S8421-S8467
Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and two resolutions were 
introduced, as follows: S. 1963-1976, S.J. Res. 33, and S. Res. 346. 
                                                         Pages S8460-61
Measures Reported:
  S. 1400, to restore the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, 
marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of Gulf 
Coast States, to create jobs and revive the economic health of 
communities adversely affected by the explosion on, and sinking of, the 
mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, with an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 112-100)
  S. 678, to increase the penalties for economic espionage, with an 
amendment.
  S. 1886, to prevent trafficking in counterfeit drugs.      
Page S8460
Measures Passed:
  Civilian Service Recognition Act: Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 
2061, to authorize the presentation of a United States flag on behalf 
of Federal civilian employees who die of injuries in connection with 
their employment, and the bill was then passed.              
  Page S8466
  Enrollment Correction: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 86, directing 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make corrections in the 
enrollment of H.R. 2061.                                     
  Page S8466
  Tariff Act of 1930: Senate passed S. 1974, to amend the Tariff Act of 
1930 to clarify the definition of aircraft and the offenses penalized 
under the aviation smuggling provisions under that Act. 
                                                         Pages S8466-67
Measures Considered:
Payroll Tax Relief: Senate continued consideration of the motion to 
proceed to consideration of S. 1944, to create jobs by providing 
payroll tax relief for middle class families and businesses. 
                                                         Pages S8429-45
  During the consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 50 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 224), Senate rejected the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the bill. (A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the motion to proceed to consideration of 
the bill, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the bill, was not agreed to.) 
                                                         Pages S8444-45
  A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motion 
to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the 
bill, be withdrawn.                                          
Page S8434
Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act: Senate began 
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1931, to 
provide civilian payroll tax relief, to reduce the Federal budget 
deficit.                                                     
  Page S8445
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 22 yeas to 76 nays (Vote No. 225), Senate rejected the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the bill. (A unanimous-consent agreement 
was reached providing that the motion to proceed to consideration of 
the bill, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, the motion to 
proceed to consideration of the bill, was not agreed to.)    
Page S8445
House Messages:
  Missouri and Illinois Compact: Senate concurred in the amendment of 
the House of Representatives to S.J. Res. 22, to grant the consent of 
Congress to an amendment to the compact between the States of Missouri 
and Illinois providing that bonds issued by the Bi-State Development 
Agency may mature in not to exceed 40 years.                 
  Page S8466
Cordray Nomination--Cloture: Senate resumed consideration of the 
nomination of Richard Cordray, of Ohio, to be Director, Bureau of 
Consumer Financial Protection.                           
  Pages S8422-29
  During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the 
following action:
  By 53 yeas to 45 nays, 1 responding present (Vote No. 223), three-
fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the 
affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the 
nomination.                                              
Pages S8428-29

[[Page D1335]]

Eisen Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Czech Republic.                                          
  Page S8454
  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of 
Thursday, December 8, 2011, a vote on cloture will occur at 5:30 p.m. 
on Monday, December 12, 2011.                                
Page S8454
Aponte Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the 
nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador.                   
  Page S8454


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page D1335, December 8, 2011, the following language appears: 
Aponte Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of Mari 
Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of El Salvador. Page S8454
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Aponte 
Nomination--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the nomination 
of Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador. Page S8454


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 

  A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, 
in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of 
Thursday, December 8, 2011, a vote on cloture will occur upon 
disposition of the nomination of Norman L. Eisen, of the District of 
Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Czech Republic.            
Page S8454
Eisen and Aponte Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time 
agreement was reached providing that Senate resume consideration of the 
nominations of Norman L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be 
Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Mari Carmen Aponte, of the 
District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador 
at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, December 12, 2011, that there be one hour for 
debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding 
back of time, Senate vote, without intervening action or debate, on the 
motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Norman L. Eisen, of the 
District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Czech Republic; and that 
if cloture is invoked, Senate immediately vote on confirmation of the 
nomination; and that following disposition of the nomination of Norman 
L. Eisen, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Czech 
Republic, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination 
of Mari Carmen Aponte, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to 
the Republic of El Salvador.                                 
  Page S8454
Messages from the House:                                 
  Pages S8459-60
Measures Referred:                                           
  Page S8460
Enrolled Bills Presented:                                    
  Page S8460
Executive Reports of Committees:                             
  Page S8460
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages S8461-62
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:              
  Pages S8462-65
Additional Statements:                                       
  Page S8459
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:                                
  Page S8465
Authorities for Committees to Meet:                      
  Pages S8465-66
Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--225) 
                                                  Pages S8429, S8444-45
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:31 a.m. and adjourned at 6:25 p.m., 
until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011. (For Senate's program, see 
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8467.)